News
Academic Center Entrance Exam General Information
Applications for Academic Centers are currently open for registration through gocps.edu. Registration applies to current 6th graders seeking enrollment to Academic Centers for the 2025-2026 school year. Students will have the option to choose between several test dates from mid-January to early February.
Academic Centers are selective enrollment middle schools. Upon admittance, students are guaranteed enrollment into each affiliated high school. Academic Centers include the following seven schools: Kenwood, Morgan Park, Lane Tech, Taft, Lindblom, Brooks, and Whitney Young. The most competitive among these are Whitney Young and Lane Tech.
As the application process is highly competitive, students will be scored on a total of 600 points. 300 potential points will be based on a student’s fifth grade final grades in math, science, English, and social studies. An A in any given subject equates to 75 points, a B equates to 50 points, a C equates to 25 points, and a D/F equates to 0 points. The remaining 300 points will be based on their performance on the Academic Center Entrance Exam.
The Academic Center Entrance Exam is a 90-minute test composed of nine sections. The content on the exam is logic-based and requires the use of abstract thought. Each year nine out of ten potential sections are chosen which include the following: verbal classifications, sentence completion, verbal analogies, sentence arrangement, number series, figural series, figural analogies, number puzzles, matrices, and paper folding. Students will have ten minutes to complete each section.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
Chicago Magazine Ranks Best Public High Schools
Chicago Magazine has released its latest rankings of public high schools in the Chicago metropolitan area for the 2024-25 school year, calculated based on four metrics: SAT scores, graduation rates, attendance, and the state's 5Essentials survey, which tracks five indicators such as “effective leadership” and “ambitious instruction.” The list included both city and suburban schools and provides one of the most detailed rankings so far, covering 110 schools across six counties.
In the Chicago city rankings, Northside College Preparatory High School topped the list with high SAT reading and math scores, followed by Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, another selective enrollment school, and Lane Technical High School. Among non-selective or non-charter schools, Back of the Yards College Preparatory ranked highest at No. 10. The top suburban school in Cook County was New Trier Township High School, followed by Glenbrook North High School and John Hersey High School.
Listed below are the top five schools within the city of Chicago:
Northside College Preparatory High School, North Park
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, Near West Side
Albert G. Lane Technical High School, Roscoe Village
William Jones College Preparatory High School, Printers Row
Walter Payton College Preparatory High School, Near North Side
For more information about scoring and to see the full ranking, click here.
Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
Changes announced for the ACT
This week, ACT announced some significant changes to their test.
One of the major changes is that the science section will now be optional, giving students the choice to include on their test, similar to the optional writing test. Additionally, the new ACT will be significantly shorter. The core test, consisting of English, reading, and math, will be just 2 hours long and will have 44 fewer questions than the current version. The English and reading sections will feature shorter passages, making the test more streamlined, and students will have more time to answer each question.
Some aspects of the ACT will remain the same. The ACT will continue to be scored on a scale of 1–36, and students will receive a composite score (the average of the English, reading, and math scores) in addition to section scores. The test will still be available in both paper and online formats, and the optional writing section will still be offered.
The new version of the ACT will be introduced in Spring 2025 for students taking the online ACT on standard national test dates. Students taking the ACT during school-day testing will experience the new version in Spring 2026.
TPC will be updating our ACT practice materials to reflect these changes and ensure student's are well-prepared for the new test.
CPS High School Admissions Test Dates Announced
CPS recently announced test dates for the CPS High School Admissions Test (CPS HSAT). 8th graders are required to take this exam to test into Selective Enrollment High Schools. This year, CPS students will take the exam at their school on October 9th while alternative language students will take the exam on October 15th.
Non-CPS students will have the option to take the exam in the following weeks at a CPS testing center. They will choose to test on October 19th, 20th, 26th, or 27th. You can find a list of all testing dates below.
CPS HSAT Test Dates
Wednesday, October 9 (For CPS Students)
Tuesday, October 15 (For Alternative Language Testing)
Saturday, October 19 (For non-CPS Students)
Sunday, October 20 (For non-CPS Students)
Saturday, October 26 (For non-CPS Students)
Sunday, October 27 (For non-CPS Students)
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
312-848-1266
Five CPS Schools Ranked Among the Best Schools in the US
The latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report have once again placed Chicago Public Schools (CPS) in the national spotlight, with five of its schools securing spots among the top 100 in the country. Walter Payton College Prep, which ranked number 5, increased its ranking by five spots from last year. Renowned for its consistent excellence, Payton has long been hailed as Illinois's premier educational institution and has frequently garnered recognition among the nation's top schools.
Joining Walter Payton are Northside College Prep (No. 35), Whitney Young Magnet High School (No. 52), Jones College Prep (No. 53) and Lane Tech (No. 60). U.S. News & World Report's methodology, which considers various indicators of school quality, including college readiness, state assessment proficiency, and graduation rates, seeks to provide a comprehensive assessment of each institution's performance. These rankings underscore the dedication and hard work of students, educators, parents, and community members.
Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
Proposed Bill Aims to Freeze Changes in Chicago Public Schools
Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill aimed at halting Chicago Public Schools (CPS) officials from closing schools or altering selective-enrollment programs until a fully elected school board assumes control in 2027. This legislative move follows a decision by Mayor Brandon Johnson's Board of Education in December to focus on providing resources to neighborhood schools, which have suffered from years of funding cuts, rather than prioritizing selective enrollment schools. Johnson's administration has provided reassurance that selective schools won't face severe cuts or closure, since these represent some of the best schools in the country; its goal is rather to expand some of the programming available at selective schools to neighborhood schools.
The proposed bill, sponsored by state Rep. Margaret Croke, would prevent CPS from changing the “standards for admission” to selective enrollment schools. It also seeks to ensure that major decisions about school closures or program changes await the establishment of a fully elected school board. However, critics argue that the bill might hinder efforts to diversify selective programs and address demographic disparities.
Supporters emphasize the need for democratic decision-making and transparency, but concerns remain about the potential consequences of delaying significant educational reforms. The bill's passage would signify a significant shift in governance structure for CPS, impacting everything from admission policies to budget allocations. As debates continue, the bill's fate holds implications not only for Chicago's educational landscape but also for broader discussions surrounding equity, resource allocation, and democratic governance in public education.
Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
Algebra Exit Exam Dates
CPS has confirmed the dates for the Algebra Exit Exam, an annual assessment given in late May to 7th or 8th grade students enrolled in Algebra I. The test is given to determine if students are prepared to move on to more advanced math classes, such as geometry. For more information about the Algebra Exit Exam, click here.
CPS students will take the exam in their algebra class at school, but non-CPS students who plan to attend a CPS school in the fall of 2024 must register on the CPS website.
Algebra Exit Exam Test Dates
CPS students will test at their school between 5/20-5/24.
Non-CPS students will test on Saturday, 5/18.
Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
ACT Test Scores at a 30-Year Low
The ACT college admissions test scores for high school students in the United States have declined to their lowest levels in over thirty years, indicating a concerning lack of preparedness for college-level coursework. This decline has been ongoing for six consecutive years, with the trend intensifying during the years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The nonprofit organization responsible for administering the test, ACT, highlights the urgent need to better equip graduates for postsecondary success in both college and career paths.
The average composite score for U.S. students on the ACT in 2023 dropped to 19.5 out of 36, down from 19.8 the previous year. Scores in reading, science, and math all fell below the benchmarks deemed necessary for success in first-year college courses, emphasizing the concerning trend in student preparedness. Despite criticism of standardized testing for favoring wealthier students and disadvantaging low-income ones, ACT CEO Janet Godwin argues that these scores remain crucial for placing students in appropriate college courses and aiding academic advisors in providing adequate support.
While many universities have made standardized testing optional for admissions, with some, like the University of California system, not considering ACT or SAT scores even if submitted, the debate over the relevance and usefulness of such tests continues. Student perspectives vary; however, the decline in ACT participation suggests a significant shift in the landscape of college admissions, with potential long-term implications for assessing student readiness and academic success.
Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
312-848-1266
Illinois Potentially Switching from SAT to ACT
Within the next year, Illinois may be switching from the SAT to ACT as it’s mandated state test. In the state of Illinois, all public high school students are required to pass a standardized college entrance exam to graduate. The Board of Education’s current contract with College Board requires 11th grade students to take the SAT and 9th and 10th grade students to take the PSAT. As this contract expires in June, it is likely the Board of Education will make the switch to the ACT for the 2024-2025 school year.
The state has begun negotiating a deal with ACT Inc. that will award the company a $53 million contract over the course of three years. If this deal is successful, it will be the first time the ACT is mandated for Illinois public school students since 2016. While the state is developing these contracts, the Chicago Board of Education recently renewed its contract with College Board for another two years. Therefore, Chicago public school students can expect to continue taking the SAT until 2026.
Some are dismayed by these potential changes, claiming the ACT does not align with current Illinois educational standards. Matthew Raimondi, a district employee, stated “that high school assessment is ultimately going to guide how teachers teach. Teachers are going to teach to the test you select. I urge you as board members to make sure you make the best decision to move to Illinois forward and not back to a test from the last century.” The state superintendent responded to this by assuring educators that whatever test is selected will align with the requisite learning standards.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
312-848-1266
Underfunding Public Universities in the State of Illinois
A state-funded commission reports that public universities are underfunded by approximately 1.4 billion dollars in Illinois. Co-chair of the commission Kimberly Lightfoot outlines how underfunding these establishments creates an inequitable educational environment as it “perpetuates a cycle of inequalities, where those from affluent backgrounds have access to better education and subsequently better opportunities, while others are left behind.” Similarly, the executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability claims “we are making higher ed more unaffordable for everyone in Illinois generally, but in particular, for low-income families and families that have been marginalized for decades.”
From 2002 – 2021 they found that state funding has decreased from 72% to 35%. The commission posits that allocating 100 – 135 million dollars to public universities each year would nullify this issue within the next 10-15 years. A 135 million dollar increase would amount to a 12% difference leading to a 10-year track to fully funding public universities, while a 100 million dollar increase would net a 9% difference culminating in a 15-year timeline. These findings will be presented at budget hearings within the coming weeks.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
312-848-1266